72 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



in the inevitable new alignment of European influence and power, a 

 doctrine of Great British diplomacy may arise akin to that so notorious 

 as of Monroe. It would mean a policy of "policing" applied to the 

 eastern continent, and its similarity to our own benevolent protectorate 

 would be pronounced, since very recently the United States has been 

 joined by the strong and self-sustaining republics of South America, 

 Brazil, Chile, and the Argentine. In effect we have become merely 

 primus inter pares on this side of the Atlantic, and that would be the 

 position of Britain upon the other. 



Because of her vastly preponderant sea-power Great Britain would 

 be able to enforce virtually whatever police authority she desired to 

 assume. Her assumption of permanent leadership, certain to be re- 

 sented and opposed if by a premature and unnatural patching up of 

 amicable relations, the old antagonistic order were resumed, would be 

 concurred in, not only by the partners of the present alliance, but by the 

 feebler nations, who would further it cordially, for economy, for safety, 

 for practicability; but only in the event of the establishment of a new 

 order founded upon an enduring equity. 



How then will it be possible and practicable to ensure equity? 

 Eventually upon Great Britain alone will rest the supreme responsibility. 

 In conjunction with her allies the rights, obligations, and privileges of 

 nations and races will be readjusted on the European continent ; but her 

 interest extends, and her power for good or evil, throughout the world. 

 In the past (as history amply testifies) British greed has seldom been 

 thwarted very seriously by British sentiment. Either by conquest or 

 artifice she has proceeded slowly but surely in the process of " benevolent 

 assimilation " of alien and often unwilling peoples. At the time of the 

 conclusion of the present war numerous and plausible excuses will not 

 be lacking for a continuance of this deplorable policy. Such a course, 

 not unjustifiable as applied — in the interests of civilization — to barbaric 

 tribes, would be wholly inapplicable and inequitable arbitrarily enforced 

 against Germany's colonies. Most certainly the extension of dominion 

 by right of conquest over East and West Africa would dissipate at once 

 ideas of enduring equity conditioning any leadership of a " posse comi- 

 tatus," No movement towards a new and true order of national and 

 racial relations will be possible unless from the very first any selfish 

 policy of spoliation is repudiated. 



Apart from those highly proper exactions in way of repayment for 

 injury and destruction (as to which the common consent of mankind 

 will be freely accorded) no excessive or wanton tribute should be imposed 

 upon the German people. Whatever form of government, retained, 

 accepted, or set up externally or internally, by or for Germany, the 

 German people should be encouraged to restore as speedily as possible 

 for themselves their own prosperity. 



